Can-opener.



C. I. MILLAR. CAN OPENER.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 5, 191a.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

IHE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-LITHOH \VASHINGTDN, D. c

nrurnn snares orrion.

CHARLES I. 1VII LLAR, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CAN-OPENER.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented Sept. 22, 1914:.

Application filed June 5, 1913. Serial No. 771,842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Crrnnnns I. MILLAR a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Frovidence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification."

This invention relates to can openers and has for its object to provide in such a device a blade having a pointed end, and mounted to slide'endwise in a suitable guiding body portion, an operating handle being pivoted :in the'body and having toothed engage invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the ap ended claims.

8f the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved can opener with the handle in normal position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the frame illustrating in elevation apart side walls 11 and 12.

the handle as being raised and in position to be grasped by the hand of the operator to force the blade through the can. Fig. 3- is a. perspective view of the body portion showing the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. is a detail perspective view of the blade. Fig. 5 v is a perspective viewof a portion of the handle. Fig. 6 is a section through the handle on line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section through the blade on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings 10 designates the body portion which is preferably formed from sheet stock, the same being bent back substantially upon itself forming two spaced A portion of the wall 11 is turned inward as at 13 to close the front of the body portion and serve as a front bearing for the knife blade shank. A short distanceto the rear of this front wall the top and bottom edges of this wall 11 are notched as at 14: and 15 and the cut portions bent inwardly to serve the double purpose, first, as a rear bearing for the knife blade shank, and second, to

form stops to limit the stroke of the blade,"

lip 14; serving as the upward limit and 15 the limit of the downward stroke. The forward extending loop 16 of this body portion performs a number of functions,

first, it joins the side walls of the body portion; second, it serves as an extending bearing portion to rest upon the can and act as a support for the stock as the blade is cutting the same, and third, it serves as a guard for the forwardly extending out-v ting edge of the blade. This body portion is also provided with laterally extending ears 2% and 25, on opposite sides thereof,

to serve as a rest and support the body while on the can and also to serve as a rest for the fingers of the operator while forcing the blade through the can to be opened.

The blade, best illustrated in Fig. 1, is preferably constructed of sheet steel and is provided with. a shank 17 on the rear edge of which is formed a plurality of gear teeth 18, the lower end of the blade being preferably made substantially in the form of a diamond-shape head having a sharp point 20 at its lower end adapted to pierce and enter the can and a forwardly extended cuttlng edge 19 adapted to out the stock as the head is drawn upward therethrough.

This edge 19 is preferably beveled mostly on its right side, as illustrated in Fig. 7, which causes the blade to hug the left and out the cover closeto the edge of the can in passing through the stock. In order to actuate this blade I have provided a handle 21 pivoted at 22 in the body portion. The forward end of this handle is provided with teeth 23 adapted to engage the corresponding teeth 18 on the edge of the cutter shank. The handle is preferably formed of sheet stock and bent over into the shape illustrated in Fig. 6, thus being light in weight and adapted to nicely fit the hand of the operator.

In assembling the parts and operating my improved device the body portion after having been stamped out of the sheet stock is bent up into shape and before the sides are finally closed the blade and the actuating handle are mounted in their respective places between the walls thereof, said walls being spaced apart and said space being controlled by the inwardly turned fingers 14 and 15 and a lower edge finger 26. The rivet is now inserted through the eye 27 of the handle which serves a double purpose, first to form a pivot on which the handle oscillates and second, to prevent the side walls of the body portion from spreading.

In opening a can the handle is raised into position illustrated in Fig. 2 where it, together with the body portion, is grasped by the hand of the operator with his fingers resting upon the ears 24 and 25- he has a good hold by which to force the pointed end and head of theblade through the can. The handle is now reciprocated the downward stroke of the same raising the blade so that the cutting edge 19 engages'the inner side of the can a, (a portion of which is illustrated in Fig. -2) and cuts it outward, the stock being supported between the walls of the forwardly extending portion 16 of the guard. At each stroke of the handle the device is advanced by hand to rapidly and smoothly cut the can close to its outer edge all around its circumference. The upper tooth on the blade brings up against the stop lL on the body portion and'the lower tooth against the stop 15, thereby limiting the stroke of the blade in both directions, the blade being set so that the forward point 27 of its cutting edge will not be raised to cut clear through the stock on the cutting stroke, thereby insuring a guide to prevent the device from slipping out of the can upon each stroke of the handle.

It will'be noted that by my improved construction a great leverage is obtained, givlng a very powerful cutting stroke and by beveling the knife on the angle, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the can is cut very smoothly and at its extreme edge all around its periphery.

I claim:

1. A can opener comprising a supporting frame, a blade mounted to be reciprocated therein, said blade having a piercing extension to enter the can and a laterally projecting outwardly turned cutting edge on said extending portion to cut the can on its upward stroke, said blade having a toothed wardly turned cutting edge adjacent saidpiercing extension to cut the can on its upward stroke, said blade having a toothed shank, and an operating handle pivoted in said frame and having teeth engaging those of said shank whereby the oscillation of said handle causes said blade to slide vertically in said frame, said body portion having laterally extended members adapted to'support the hand .of the operator in forcing the blade.

through the can.

8. A. can opener comprising a hollow body portion constructed of sheet metal having two side walls formed by bending the metal substantially back upon itself leaving a space between, said body portion being adapted to be grasped bythe hand of the operator and rest upon the face of the can, a knife blade mounted to be reciprocated between said walls, said blade having a piercing extension to enter the can and laterally projecting outwardly turned cutting edge on said projecting portion, said blade having teeth on one of its edges, and an operating handle pivotally mounted in saidv body and having teeth engaging those of said shank whereby the oscillating of said handle imparts areciprocating movement to said blade to pass into and out of the can to cut the same.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES I. MILLAR.

Witnesses: p

HOWARD E. BARLOW, E I. OGDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

